Physocarpus plant named ‘N5’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Physocarpus opulifolius  plant named, ‘N5’, that is characterized by its compact plant habit, its foliage that is very dark purple-black in color, and its high resistance to powdery mildew.

Botanical classification: Physocarpus opulifolius.

Varietal denomination: ‘N5’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Physocarpus opulifolius and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘N5’. ‘N5’ represents a new cultivar of Physocarpus, a deciduous shrub grown for landscape use.

The new cultivar originated as a seedling in a trial field that was planted with seeds collected from open pollination of of Physocarpus ‘Monlo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,211) in Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands. The pollen parent is therfore unknown. ‘N5’ was selected as a single unique plant in July of 2007.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by softwood stem cuttings by the Inventor in June of 2008 in Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation by softwood stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘N5’ as a unique and distinct cultivar of Physocarpus.

-   1. ‘N5’ exhibits a compact plant habit. -   2. ‘N5’ exhibits foliage that is very dark purple-black in color. -   3. ‘N5’ exhibits high resistance to powdery mildew.

The seed parent of ‘N5’, ‘Monlo’, differs from ‘N5’ in having a less compact plant habit, in having purple foliage that is much lighter in color and in being less resistant to powdery mildew. ‘N5’ can also be compared to the Physocarpus opulifolius cultivars ‘SMPOTW’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,749) and ‘Minall2’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,892). Both ‘SMPOTW’ and ‘Minall2’ are similar to ‘N5’ in having foliage that is dark in color. ‘SMPOTW’ differs from ‘N5’ in having a more compact plant habit, leaves that are smaller in size and lighter purple-black in color, and in being less resistant to powdery mildew. ‘Minall2’ differs from ‘N5’ in having a wider plant shape, leaves that are larger in size with more glossy surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Physocarpus. The photographs were taken of a plant 3 years in age as field grown outdoors in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the plant habit of ‘N5’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the leaves of ‘N5’.

The photograph in FIG.3 provides a view of the inflorescenses buds of ‘N5’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digital photography and printing techniques utilized and the color codes in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Physocarpus.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 3-year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in a field in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands. Phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Sparsely flowers in May in The Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Perennial shrub.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Very compact, mounded shape.         -   Height and spread.—An average of 1.25 m in height and 1.5 m             in width in the landcape as a 3 year-old plant.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 3.         -   Diseases and pest resistance.—Highly resistant to powdery             mildew caused by Podosphaera aphanis var. physocarpi.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and fine.         -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.         -   Root development.—An average of 6 weeks to produce a rooted             cutting and about 3 months weeks to produce a fully rooted             young plant.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Branch description:     -   -   Branch color.—New wood; N186C, tinged N186A, maturing; N186A             and lightly tinged with N186C, bark; 200B to 200D.         -   Branch size.—An average of 70.8 cm in length and 4.5 cm in             diameter.         -   Number of lateral branches.—An average of 8 per plant.         -   Branch surface.—New and maturing wood very slightly glossy,             mature bark finely barked and slightly peeling.         -   Shape.—Young stems are angled with 5 edges, older stems             round.         -   Internode length.—An average 2.2 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branched, average angle of 35°.         -   Branch strength.—Strong. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Broad ovate in outline, three-lobed.         -   Leaf aspect.—Slightly convexed, moderately curled.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Truncate to cordate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color; upper surface 200A, lower             surface main veins 183B, secondary veins N186C.         -   Leaf margin.—Tri-lobed and crenate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces smooth, upper surface glabrous             and moderately glossy, lower surface is matte and covered             with very short hairs on vein axils; 0.3 mm in length and             199A in color.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 7.5 cm in length and 6.7 cm in             width.         -   Leaf number.—Average of 33 per lateral branch.         -   Leaf color.—Young foliage; upper surface 200A, slightly             tinged N186A, lower surface color between 197A and N199A,             mature foliage; upper surface 203B, very slightly tinged             186A, lower surface 148A, very slightly tinged N186C, fall             color both surfaces; a blend of 203B and N186D.         -   Petiole.—An average of 1.3 cm in length, 2 mm in width,             upper surface N186A in color and tinged N186C, lower surface             N186C in color, strong.         -   Stipules.—2 present at the base of each petiole, ovate in             shape, acute tip, broadly cuneate base, an average of 8 mm             in length and 3 mm in width, margins are irregularily             serrate, color; upper surface 200B, lower side a blend of             200A to 203A. -   Flower description (not a distinguishing characteristic):     -   -   Flower type.—Small rotate flowers arranged in spherical             corymb.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 3.2 cm in width and depth.         -   Flower fragrance.—Slight.         -   Flower lastingness.—Corymb lasts about 2 weeks, not             persistent, individual flowers about 3 days.         -   Flower bud description.—Elliptic in shape, average of 3.2 cm             in length and 3 mm in diameter, 182A in color.         -   Flower quantity.—About 40 per corymb.         -   Flower size.—About 6 mm in depth and 7.5 mm in diameter.         -   Peduncles.—About 1.2 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter,             N186A in color, glabrous surface.         -   Pedicels.—About 1.6 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter, N186A             in color, glabrous surface.         -   Petal description.—5, elliptic to obovate in shape, margin             is entire, apex is broadly acute, lower and upper surface is             glabrous, apex is obtuse, base is attenuate.         -   Petal size.—About 5 mm in length and 4 mm in width.         -   Petal color.—Opening; upper surface N155B and lower surface             N155C and blushed with 69C, fully open; upper and lower             surface N155D.         -   Calyx size.—Average of 7 mm in length and diameter.         -   Sepal description.—5, subulate in shape, margin is entire,             apex is acute, surface is glabrous.         -   Sepal size.—Average of 1.7 cm in length, 3 mm in width.         -   Sepal color.—Outer and inner surfaces; 144B when developing,             turning to 75C after anthesis. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—4, Pistil about 0.5 mm in length, stigma is             globular in shape and 145B in color, style is about 1 cm in             length and 155C in color, ovary is 144B in color.         -   Androecium.—Numerous, anthers are oblong in shape, about 0.5             mm in length and 201C in color, filaments are about 5 mm in             length, pollen is scarce in quantity; too minimum for color             reading.         -   Fruit and seed.—None observed to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Physocarpus plant named ‘N5’ substantially as herein illustrated and described. 